Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Children with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common cause of goiter and acquired hypothyroidism in children after iodine deficiency. In this study, clinical and laboratory findings and follow-up results of children diagnosed with HT are presented. The data of cases diagnosed with HT between 2004 and 2022 in 2 centers in Erzurum were evaluated retrospectively. Of the 81 children with HT whose ages ranged from 3 to 18 years (11.24 ± 3.72), 67 (82.7%) were girls and 14 (17.3%) were boys. The most common symptoms were neck swelling (37%), fatigue (23.5%), and hair loss (23.5%). There was a family history of HT in 12 cases (9.9%). Fifty-one (63%) of the cases were in the pubertal period and 30 (37%) were in the prepubertal period. There was no goiter in 36 (44.4%) of the patients, second degree goiter in 24 (29.6%), first degree goiter in 14 (17.3%), and third degree goiter in 7 (8.7%). Twenty-two (27.2%) of the cases were euthyroid, 27 (33.3%) were subclinical hypothyroidism, 23 (28.4%) were hypothyroidism, and 9 (11.1%) were hyperthyroidism. While 18 (22.2%) of the cases were followed up without medication, 59 (72.8%) were given levothyroxine and 4 (5%) were given methimazole. The mean follow-up time was 32.1 ± 33.7 months. The study's findings suggest that HT is more common in girls and occurs more frequently after puberty. A personal or family history of an autoimmune disease may be a warning sign for HT. Additionally, HT should be kept in mind in the diferential diagnosis of children presenting with complaints of neck swelling, fatigue, and hair loss.